STEVE WILLIAMS admits he has lost “a tremendous amount of respect” for Tiger Woods after the former world number one ended their 12-year partnership.
Williams caddied for Woods as the American won 13 of his 14 major titles, but Woods announced the split publicly yesterday, saying it was “time for a change”.
Their relationship had been strained by the sex scandal surrounding Woods which broke in November 2009, and the New Zealander said: “I think anybody in my situation would say they didn’t have total respect and that respect would have to be earned. Obviously this situation is certainly not earning my respect.
“I told him when we first met back up in 2010 at Augusta that he had to earn my respect back.
“He was aware of that and he would know right now I’ve lost a tremendous amount of respect for him.
“Through time I hope he can gain my respect back. He definitely needs to earn my respect again, that’s for sure.”
Speaking to TV New Zealand, the 47-year-old added: “I’m a very big stickler for loyalty and I stuck with Tiger through his difficult period when a lot of people thought I should have left his side.
“That was the most difficult period that I’ve ever been through in my life.
“I’m pretty hard headed and took it probably a lot better than my wife and family did, but there’s no way that I should have been put through that.
“My name should have been cleared immediately. It wasn’t and that’s what makes it even more disappointing what’s transpired.
“I never really got pardoned from that scandal so the timing of it is extraordinary.
“You could say I’ve wasted two years of my life.”
Woods has not won since the 2009 Australian Masters and missed the US Open and Open Championship this year through injury.
It is a far cry from the time when the 35-year-old dominated the game and Williams added: “I’ve been fortunate to witness possibly one of the greatest runs in golf ever.
“I consider myself very fortunate, I would be surprised if anyone plays at that level for that length of time again.”
Williams has now taken up a full-time position with Australian Adam Scott, added: “I’m excited about it and the last few weeks caddying for Adam has kind of opened my eyes a little bit.”
